Aristotle's Metaphysics

Aristotle's Metaphysics Analysis

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Written by Mason Tabor

Being that Aristotle's work is essentially an extensive argument, any analysis must begin with understanding the argument posed and interacting with that argument in a way that is enlightening. This is different than literary analysis in that it doesn't involve analysis of fictional scenarios or lines in order to extract meaning and author's intent; instead the author's intent is explicit and it is the readers job to entertain the arguments well.

In the Metaphysics, Aristotle explores several logical systems that are integral to the study of abstract truths. One such important component is that arguments are always either true or false. No argument is partially true--it is just false and needs to be moderated to approximate the truth. This is a core component of section Γ.

According to Aristotle, everything is caused, except the uncaused causation (The Unmoved Mover) that he argues about in section Λ. Except for God, understood as the ultimate cause, everything else is caused. God must not be an effected force according to the argument from section α, that arguments about infinite causality are ludicrous or absurd. This is an interesting contrast to today's New Athiests who argue against the existence of God based on Aristotles "little Alpha" argument against infinite causality. This might mark an essential difference between religion and atheism, namely that God exists, uncaused and unpreceded.

The Metaphysic is an integral work in opposing top-down philosophies. In many ways, Aristotle establishes a system of skepticism, refusing to accept arguments predicated upon unknowable proponants. Consider, for example, by contrast, Plato who argues his entire corpus in light of his understandings about the heavenly forms. For Aristotle, this system lacked integrity because the Forms were not readily apparent and since they could not be learned from directly, they require more assumption than inductive logic.

The work is part of an incredible oeuvre from Aristotle, the fullness of which has influenced Philosophy immeasurably for thousands of years. His work is paramount even in religious studies, having led Aquinas to consider faith in light of Aristotlean philosophy and intellectual knowledge. Aristotle also underpins the post-modernist camp, partially because many use his arguments to deny moral claims (Ayer, Nietzsche) and others use the terms by disagreeing with them (relativists, deconstructionists). Regardless, the Metaphysics is easily one of the most influential works ever penned by a human being.